Company Profile

The Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) is a project which is currently running in some African countries, with the objective to facilitate the flow of credible biotechnology information from the Scientific community to Policymakers and the general public. Since its establishment 2006 in Kenya, by the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF), OFAB has grown and evolved into a fully-fledged, credible advocacy platform with convening power and a stronger voice biotechnology issue management in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). OFAB currently operates actively in seven countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

The Ghana chapter of OFAB was established in 2011 and has since been hosted by the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR). CSIR wishes to recruit a suitably qualified Project Officer for a period of 2 years, renewable subject to performance and availability of funds.

Job Description

The Feed the Future programme of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting the scaling of improved cowpea technologies that will enhance the productivity of the crop in four West African Countries of Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.

The Savanna Agricultural Research Institute [SARI] is a major stakeholder in the agricultural development of Ghana and the Institute has over the years collaborated with the IITA in the development and release of a number of improved cowpea varieties in the country. No doubt many of these varieties have been adopted by Ghanaian farmers and many more of the farmers need to be reached with these new varieties if the crop's productivity is to increase. This project promises to out scale relevant technologies that have the potential to increase cowpea production in the sub-region.

To ensure an effective management of the cowpea scaling project there is need to hire a national coordinator in each participating country for the three years the project is expected to last. The coordinator will be a staff of SARI with 100 percent of his/her time committed to coordinating the project. For effective management of the project at the national level it is proposed that the coordinator for Ghana should be based at the IITA station, Tamale.

The responsibilities of the national coordinator include but not limited to;

• Establishment of new partnerships with diverse stakeholders including extension organisations, NGOs, National Seed Council and private sector entities especially agrochemical dealers and relevant organisations and bodies in the country.
• Identification and involving existing community based cowpea seed producers, national seed companies while also encouraging establishment of small scale seed enterprises in Ghana.
• Work closely with cowpea breeders, entomologies, agronomists and social scientists of national institutions in the country to evaluate and disseminate improved cowpea varieties and complementary crop management practices.
• Implement national seed road map for cowpea in Ghana
• Assist the project coordinator in the monitoring of national project activities
• Be prepared to travel extensively in the country.
• Participate in the establishment of community based growers and their proper training in seed production, handling and packaging.
• The candidate will prepare reports for the donors on project activities in Ghana as and when due.
• He will also carry out other activities as directed by the project coordinator based at IITA.

Emolument: very attractive

Required Skills or Experience

• The candidate should have a university degree in crop science/agronomy or its equivalent
• At least five years working experience on extension or NGO's project in the country.
• He must be good in spoken and written English and of amiable interpersonal qualities.